MA’AN Development Center
The Occupation of the Jordan ValleyDestroying the Two State Solution
October 2007
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
Jordan Valley Update
Overview Location and general information
Land Grab and Colonization Israeli control over JV land
Apartheid Wall and settlementsList of Israeli settlements (colonies) in JV
House demolition
Movement RestrictionsResidence restrictions
Movement and access restrictions Humanitarian access
List of checkpoints in JV
Vulnerable Economy Agriculture and markets
Agricultural barriers that Israel imposes in JV Tourism
Occupation procedures that inhibit tourism poverty and unemployment
Water resources Israeli control over water resources
Lack of access to water for Palestinians
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Overview
The Jordan Valley is located in a stretch of
land located at the base of a mountain ridge that
runs adjacent to the Jordan River. JV runs
from the Sea of Galilee in the north to the Dead
Sea in the south.
The area is rich in agricultural land, warm weather and abundant water sources, offering
great economic and political prospects.
Since 1967, 5 military outposts and 36
settlements have been established in the
Jordan Valley. Approximately 6200
settlers live in the area and 58,147 Palestinians (excluding the Bedouin
population). M
ap: U
N O
ffice
for C
oord
inati
on o
f Hum
anita
rian
Affai
rs (O
CHA)
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Land Grab and Colonization
Area Classification* Description Areas included Area
(total = 2,400 km²)% of total
JV area
A Palestinian Civil & Security
Control
Jericho, Al-Uja 85 km² 3.54%
B Palestinian Civil Control & Israeli Security Control
Ein al-Beida, Bardala, Fasayel, Marj Na’jeh,
Zubeidat, Nassareyyeh
50 km² 2.08%
C Settlement Regional Council
Control
36 settlements 1200 km² 50%
Closed zones Border line, military bases, natural reserves
1065 km² 44.37%
Total under Palestinian control 135 km² 5.62%
Total under Israeli control 2265 km² 94.37%
Source: Ministry of Planning & the Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign
*Classification according to 1993 Oslo Agreement
Israeli control over Jordan Valley land
Map: Negotiations Support Unit – February 2007
Total settlements in JV = 36
Total # settlers in JV = 6,200
In 2003, part of the eastern Wall was built from the Jordan River (east) to Matalla village of Jenin (west)
Wall segregated 5000 dunums of lands
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Land Grab and Colonization
No Settlement Area (dunum) Year established
Population
1 Almog ---- 1977 159
2 Argaman 833 1968 166
3 Beit Ha’arava 25 1980 83
4 Bek’out 675 1972 156
5 Gif’at Salit ---- 2002 4 families
6 Gilgal 650 1970 164
7 Gitit ---- 1973 191
8 Giv’at ‘Olim ---- 1998 0
9 Hamra ---- 1971 132
10 Hemdat ---- 1997 140
11 Hill 777 ---- 1999 12
12 Hill 836 ---- 1998 95
Source: The Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign
Settlements (colonies)
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
No Settlement Area (dunum) Year established
Population
13 Kalia 417 1968 271
14 Kokhaf Hashahar ---- 1977 1449
15 Ma’ale Efraym 714 1970 1423
16 Ma’ale Shlomom ---- 1999 9 families
17 Mehola 233 1968 362
18 Mekhoura ---- 1973 120
19 Meswa 817 1970 136
20 Mezpe Shalom ---- 1971 180
21 Mezray Jericho ---- 1978 1563
22 Mezray Karmim ---- 2001 1367
23 Mifot Jericho ---- 1999 20
24 Mol Nefo 66 2001 One woman
Source: The Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign
Settlements (colonies)
Land Grab and Colonization
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
No Settlement Area (dunum) Year established
Population
25 Naomi 425 1982 130
26 Nativ Hagidud 1037 1976 127
27 Niran 225 1977 49
28 Petsa’el ---- 1975 215
29 Ro’i 264 1976 117
30 Rotem 50 2001 18
31 Verd Yeriho ---- 1980 156
32 Yavit 1066 1980 99
33 Yitav ---- 1970 156
34 Tomer 366 1978 281
35 Shedmot Mehola 609 1979 516
36 Southern Ma’ale Shlomo
---- 2003 0
Source: The Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign
Land Grab and Colonization
Settlements (colonies)
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Israel continues to confiscate land, demolish homes and prevent rehabilitation of existing houses and roads of the Palestinians, but
maintains plans for settlement expansion and infrastructure development for Israeli settlers in the Jordan Valley.
Land Grab and Colonization
House Demolition
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Source: Jericho District Coordination Office
January 2007, alone, sought losses of $56,800 due to house and agricultural facility demolitions
Source: Jericho District Coordination Office
House Demolition
Land Grab and Colonization
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Movement Restrictions
Residence restrictions
Since May 2005, only Palestinians with an address on their identification card from the Jordan Valley are allowed to reside there.
Many people who have lived in the Jordan Valley for many years, but did not have that address on their ID cards were affected
Women who have married into a family from the Jordon valley for example, or others who were born in other areas of the West Bank but now live there are most affected
Residents of the Jordon Valley without the corrected address on their identification card fear traveling to other areas of the West Bank in case they are prohibited from returning to their homes.
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Movement Restrictions
On 12 January 2006 Israeli leaders officially announced the isolation of the Jordan Valley from the rest of the West Bank
Restrict 200,000 land owners from accessing their agricultural land
Private Palestinian cars travelling through Hamra, Tayasir, Ma’ale Efrayim and Yitav checkpoints are subject to obtaining an Israeli permit, however, permits for private vehicles are very difficult to obtain.
Bisan checkpoint into Israel at the north of the Valley continues to be available for the export of Jordan Valley agricultural goods to Israel. However, Bisan is a back-to-back checkpoint and a permit is required for the goods. Long delays at Bisan, Hamra and Tayasir checkpoints can result in delays for farmers which, in many cases, results in the spoiling or devaluation of their produce.
A permanent checkpoint has been established on Road 1 to the Dead Sea preventing all Palestinians from traveling south to the Dead Sea even if they possess permits to enter Israel.
Movement and access restrictions
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Movement and Access
Palestinian patients and medical staff suffer from the usual delays caused by checkpoints.
Deterioration in the medical condition of patients due to long waiting hours
Death and checkpoint deliveries were reported for some emergency medical conditions that could
not wait on checkpoints
Closing checkpoints on Jewish holidays and closure days threats the lives of emergency cases
Humanitarian Access
Hamra checkpoint
Electronic search room
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
Checkpoint in the Jordan Valley
Checkpoint Location Opening hours Type Manned by From To
Jericho southern checkpoint
Jericho southern entrance
5am 10pm Permanent Military, Police, DCO
Dyok (Na’ran) North-west of Jericho
6am 5pm Permanent Military, Police, DCO
New’me North of Jericho
Closed with cement blocks
Permanent Border guards
Taybeh (Caramelo)
North-west of Jericho
Open Permanent Military, Police
Wadil Qilt South-west of Jericho
Closed with cement blocks
Permanent Military
Hamra Nassareyya & Wadi al Bathan
5am 10pm Permanent Military, Police
Tayaseer Near Tayaseer
5am 9pm Permanent Military, Police
Ma’ale Efrayim
Near ma’ale Efrayim settlement
6am 9pm Permanent Military
Uja Mu’arajat road
Open Permanent Border guards Source: Jericho District Coordination Office
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
Checkpoint in the Jordan Valley
Checkpoint Location Opening hours Type Manned by From To
Jericho southern entrance
Verd Yeriho junction
Open Not permanent
Border guards,Police
Al Khan al Ahmar
Hizma junction
Open Not permanent
Police
Der Hijla Der Hijla junction
6am 9pm Not permanent
Border guards
Ma’le Adumim
Near Ma’ale Adumim settlement
6am 9:30pm Permanent Border guards, police
07 checkpoint
Entrance of Al Khan al Ahmar
6am 9:30pm Not permanent
Border guards, police
Bisan On the Green Line
Open Permanent Border guards
Bardala Bardala entrance
Open Not permanent
Border guards,Police
Dead Sea Dead Sea road
Flying checkpoint ------- Border guards
Source: Jericho District Coordination Office
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
Vulnerable Economy
The Jordan Valley area totally depends on agriculture (except for Jericho) for and heavily utilizes its agricultural prospects, providing 35% of the total produce distributed to Palestinians. It produces 60% of the vegetables, 40% of citrus and 100% of bananas. This agricultural success is associated with the area’s unique locations below sea level, which is likened to a giant greenhouse where crops ripe early in the winter.
Agriculture and Markets
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
Vulnerable Economy
Agricultural barriers Israel imposes on Palestinians in JV
Continued confiscation of agricultural land to complete the eastern segregation zone, expand settlements and military zones
Eliminate Palestinian products that may supply the local market by dumping the Palestinian market with Israeli good produced in settlements
Demolition and destruction of infrastructure such as curettage of agricultural lands, demolition of agricultural barracks and retention of wells, stone terraces and irrigation networks
Prevention of building new wells and reconditioning of existing wells
Preventing farmers and landowner who do not have a Jordan Valley residential address in their IDs from reaching and cultivating their lands
Closure of Arab, Israeli and regional markets to Palestinian farmers
Under normal circumstances, Palestinians need 3 hours to get to the West Bank markets, with the checkpoints, they need at least six hours, making fruits and vegetables more vulnerable to damage
Destruction of livestock sector by imposing high fines on shepherds who let their sheep cross an Israeli zone from which Palestinians are forbidden
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Closing grazing fields
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
Vulnerable Economy
Agricultural barriers Israel imposes on Palestinians in JV
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Source: Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture – Jericho Department
In 20001,900 tons of Palestinian produce reached Israeli markets
In 2001Only 15 tons of Palestinian produce reached Israeli markets
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
Vulnerable Economy
Tourism
The economy of the Jordan Valley depends also on tourism, mainly focusing in and around Jericho, whereas the rest of the Valley depends primarily on agriculture.
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Jericho’s tourism sector, central to the Jordan Valley economy, was devastated following September 2000.
Source: Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
Vulnerable Economy
Occupation Procedures that Inhibit Tourism
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Checkpoints and strict military procedures in/out of the Jordan Valley
Complete isolation of Jericho by surrounding it with checkpoints and a trench
Ongoing Israeli military training and explosions leaving some sites with serious damages such as the Greek Monastery of Hijla
Declaring some tourist attractions closed military zones such as Al Maleh where Israel destroyed the ancient hotels and hot springs present since the Ottoman era.
Prevention of Israeli drivers and tourist guides from entering Palestinian areas, leaving tourists with no choice but to avoid the area
Cancellation of visits to Jericho and its sites from Israeli and international tourist programs
Construction of the Apartheid wall which prevents geographical continuity between the three main tourist centers (Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Jericho)
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
Vulnerable Economy
Occupation Procedures that Inhibit Tourism
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
An ancient hotel in Al Maleh closed by the occupation since 1967
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
Vulnerable Economy
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Poverty and unemployment
The Israeli severe restrictions and oppressive policies on Palestinians in the Jordan Valley resulted in:
In 2006, unemployment rates reached 21% in Jericho and Tubas districts
Despite of the Valley’s agricultural advantages, approximately 53% of the its residents in Jericho and Tubas were food insecure in 2006, up by 10% from 2005
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
Water Resources
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Israeli control over water resources
The Eastern Water Aquifer
Although the Jordan Valley is situated over the Eastern Water Basin, Palestinians in the area suffer from lack of access to water due to Israeli restrictions and copious usage
M
ap: N
egoti
ation
s Su
ppor
t Uni
t
Eastern Aquifer
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
Water Resources
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Israeli control over water resources
The Eastern Water Aquifer
Although the Jordan Valley is situated over the Eastern Water Basin, Palestinians in the area suffer from lack of access to water due to Israeli restrictions and copious usage
Eastern Aquifer
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
Water Resources
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
The Jordan River
Israel forbids Palestinians from using the Jordan River, which would provide 250 million cubic liters of water per year
Israeli control over water resources
The Dead Sea
Israel exhausted Dead Sea Water, threatening its existence in the next 20 years.
Israel fully controls the Dead Sea and denies Palestinian rights to access its water, minerals and shores.
Israel is excessively pumping water out of the sea and reserving water coming from the western valleys of the Jordan River, which results in decreasing the amount of water drained into the Dead Sea.
As a result of lack of water drainage into the Dead Sea from the Jordan River valleys as well as Israel’s excessive pumping of the sea water, aerial photos show the Dead Sea splitting into two separate, smaller lakes
A northern part of the Dead Sea
B southern lobe partially dried out
A
B
N
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
Water Resources
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Irrigation projects
Over the last 4 decades, Israel has isolated 162 agricultural wells in the Jordan Valley (east of Road 90), prohibiting Palestinians from using them
Israeli control over water resources
Underground water
Controlling underground water and digging wells at critical depths while Prohibiting Palestinians from digging new of reallocating wells. Israel measures the amount of water used by Palestinians and imposes fines on those who exceed the allocated amount
Contamination of available water
The water available for Palestinians from springs and underground water is polluted by the leakage of sewage from settlements
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
Water Resources
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Comparison
Israel has full control over Palestinian water resources and restricts Palestinian access to these resources , as a result:
Lack of access to water for Palestinians
Settlers
Cultivate 27,000 dunumsConsume 41mcm of water/ year
Palestinians
Cultivate 53,000 dunumsConsume 37mcm of water/ year
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
Water Resources
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Lack of access to water for Palestinians
Waiting to drink water in the Palestinian village of Fassayel
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
The Jordan Valley and the two state Solution
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
UN Resolution 1397 affirms the vision of two states –Israel & Palestine living side by side within secure and recognized borders
For any state to survive it must be:
(1) Sovereign (2) Geographically contiguous(3) Economically sustainable
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
The Jordan Valley and the two state Solution
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Sovereignty
Israel controls more than 94.37% of the Jordan Valley land
Israel has full control over water resources in the Jordan Valley
Israel has full control over the eastern borders with Jordan ( the only outlet for West Bank Palestinians to the world)
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
The Jordan Valley and the two state Solution
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Geographical Continuity
The Jordan Valley is completely isolated from the rest of the West Bank
Access to the Jordan Valley city of Jericho is restricted; Palestinians are not allowed to exist Jericho through the Jordan Valley, they have to take a long dangerous route to the West Bank in order to do so
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
The Jordan Valley and the two state Solution
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Economic Sustainability
Agriculture and livestock
Complete control over most of the agricultural lands
Complete control over water resources necessary for agriculture
Destroying the agricultural infrastructure by demolition of irrigation pools, irrigations networks, confiscation of land, etc.
Imposing severe restrictions on Palestinians for marketing their produce to the West Bank markets and international markets
Destruction of livestock sector due to the closure of grazing fields, high fines imposed on shepherds, etc
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
The Jordan Valley and the two state Solution
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Economic Sustainability
Tourism
Preventing Jericho’s local and international tourist visits
Destroying some tourist ancient tourist attractions in the Jordan Valley
Preventing geographical continuity between the three main tourist centers (Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho)
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
Is the two state solution still possible?
The Jordan Valley and the two state Solution
Map: Negotiations Support Unit
MA’AN Development Center Palestine
Resources
MA’AN Development Center
Ramallah Head Office, Phone: (+972) 2-295 4451/ 298 6796, Fax: (+972) 2- 295 [email protected]. www.maan-ctr.org
•To Exist is to Resist: Eye on Jordan valley – MA’AN Development Center and the Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign , May 2007
• United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) – Closure Update, March 2007
• United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) – Humanitarian Update, October 2005
•UN Press Release (SC/7326), Security Council resolution 1397, 2002
•The Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign
• Negotiations Support Unit
•Jericho District Coordination Office (DCO)
•Palestinian Ministry of Planning
•Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture
•Palestinian ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
•Picture Credits: MA’AN and The Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign
Top Related